Good bye my lapbanders - I am revising from Band to Sleeve

So sorry the band failed u! Good luck with the sleeve!!!

Sorry to hear that things haven't been ideal for you.  I lost my band nearly a year ago from erosion & wanted to revise to sleeve at that time but couldn't get ins. approval. I have managed to keep all of the 90 lbs lost off except for 15 so far.  I'm fighting to keep the weight off but if I fail I would have the sleeve in an heartbeat. We all wish you well on your journey!

Aetna and CIGNA(?) changed their policy in May of this year to approave the Sleeve/VSG.  Even Medicare has a VSG code now, with the expectation to cover it in the near future.  Many others are starting to cover it also ---- Had it not been for Aetna's change in policy I would have suffered with the band.  Congrats on keeping the 90 pds off - that is impressive!

Hey Donna...we have the same surgeon is Dr Mo doing your revision? I thought about a revision to the Sleeve after I gained some weight...but I thought about the risk did not outweigh the benefits for a 30 pound gain...so I got another fill and Iam losing again...sorry about your eating problems...my band is not perfect but it is still kicking at 5 years and I am able to eat normally with restriction so I am keeping my band as long as it helps me.....good luck on your revision.

Yes Dr Mo is going to do the revision.  He will revise you if he put in the band.  Otherwise if a patient came to him (with a Mexico band for example) he would not revise that patient.

I wish I could eat normally -- gosh to each 1/2 a sandwich and have restirction for hrs would be nirvana -- but I can't eat bread, and everything else hurts.

Now several yrs into this -- I find myself eating not so good things - when you are hungry you want something in your stomach, eh..... I put on 20 pbs between that and removing some fill to help the situation.

I'll keep you posted

 
Eating a half a sandwich with a sleeve?  HAHAHA  Sorry, that won't happen for awhile. ;o)  i'm 2 years out and still can't eat a full slice of bread.  i'm talking quality bread, not cheap white bread.

You'll be able to eat 3/4 of a half sandwich in 6 months or so. ;o)

Best wishes to you!  I fully understand your feelings.  I went through 18 months of the band not working and didn't want to come to the boards because of that. 

Best of luck with the surgery and the VSG, may your pain go away and stay away, along with excess weight.

Henry

 
i am so sorry you didn't feel comfortable posting.  There are lots of people like you and me out there.  You are not alone.

Congratulations! Good luck with your surgery. Let us know how you are doing! -Nikki

I would really like to revise to a sleeve when Medicare starts paying for it.  I have had a lot of problems with my band and right now am pratially unfilled and have gained 10 lbs in less than a month.  If I lose my band then I would like a sleeve and I pray if that happens it will be covered.  Although last night I was reading on one of the boards about people not losing with the sleeve so that kind of scares me.  I know I have to do my part and I have with the band and still have not lost but around 60 lbs, was more but like I said I have gained some now. 

Jacqueline